Author's Note:

🎶This is logic for the confused ones!🎶
The world seemed to spin, at least, that's what Glisteen thought. "What are we doing here?" Glisteen asked, after they had just gotten to the Niactarcta port. Glisteen looked around. The land was covered in ice, the buildings looked cruel, even the ports looked like a death trap. Everything about this place screamed to get out. Fast.

"Whatever they got us for." Telma answered in an accent similar to that of Hepas, but harsher. Glisteen thought that was weird. Telma and Smeko didn't seem at all bothered that they were in the worst country in all of Aethr.

She saw Thigil comforting Mictochra. Funny, she thought Mictochra was one of the toughest people Glisteen had ever met. Glisteen put a comforting hand on Yilasia, who she was standing next to. Yilasia was trembling.

"What-what's going to happen now?" Yilasia asked.

"We'll wait and see." Glisteen answered.

Sinlivbie, who had been invisible through the exchange, appeared by Glisteen. Sinlivbie shivered. "It's freezing out here." she complained. Glisteen nodded, Niactarcta was one of the coldest countries.

Hepas came around, passing out warm winter coats. When Glisteen put it on, she felt much better, where as before, she was cold. "Who's that?" Yilasia asked, pointing.

When Glisteen looked closer, she saw a thin woman, with a pinched face, and white hair. Glisteen guessed she was in her mid-sixties. She reminded her of Gilledmop. "Welcome!" the woman yelled. "Showda, how are you? And who are these dearies?" Glisteen immediately decided she didn't trust this woman.

Showda walked out on deck, and onto the port, where the woman was, "Talyah, how are you?" Showda said in a voice like silk.

"Very well, sister. Now, introduce me to these little cuties." Talyah replied. Glisteen felt like the Aethr had just shook.

Showda had a sister? Two Showdas! This just keeps getting better and better. Glisteen thought, sarcastically.

Showda turned around, gesturing to each in turn, "Introduce yourselves."

"Y-Yilasia."

"Sinlivbie."

"Raya."

The list went on and on. The new recruits, whose names Glisteen couldn't remember introduced themselves too, but Glisteen was hardly paying attention.

"Sabecary."

"Thigil." 

"Smeko."

"Telma."

"Rebeez." A new recruit with red hair, piercing blue eyes, and fair skin.

They finally got to Glisteen, who, didn't feel like sharing with this woman, but knew she should.

"Glisteen."

The introductions finally ended, and Talyah applauded. "Oh, they're all so well mannered. Well, I hope you enjoy your stay here, dearies. I know I certainly enjoy having you here. Now, girls, follow me. Boys can go with Hepas." All of the eight girls got off first, following Talyah. The eight boys got off second.

They walked side by side for a while, until the they came into a mansion. The inside was beautiful, decorated with sparkling blue walls, with a white tile floor, and dark blue ceiling.

They walked some more (how large was this place?) until they were in the large living room. It looked cosy, changing to dark blue walls, white carpeting, a light blue ceiling and a single chandelier. There was a white fireplace on the far right wall, with two white couches, and a white chair surrounding it. There were also two hallways in the back.

"Boys to the right and girls to the left." before they split, though, Sabecary leaned over to Glisteen. "Be careful." he whispered, before walking after the boys. Glisteen pondered his warning for a second, then headed to the left with the others.

There were eight rooms, one person per each room. "Now girls, find your room. It will have your name on it." Talyah instructed.

Slowly, they went down the hallway, searching for each of their rooms. Yilasia's and Glisteen's were at the end of the hallway and Sinlivbie's and Raya's were near the middle.

"Look!" Yilasia said, gleefully, pointing to her room. "You can only go in with my handprint. Isn't that cool?"

How had they gotten our handprints? Glisteen's thoughts were interrupted by Yilasia opening the door and dragging Glisteen into her room. Glisteen gasped.

The walls of Yilasia's room was a beautiful deep green, with a olive green bed, a sea green carpet, a white ceiling (why did these people love white?) a white bigger table, and, of course, two white chairs, all with blue and pink flowers.

The room was rectangular shaped, like most rooms. The bed was on the left wall, with a forest green bedside table and lamp. The big table and chairs were in the back.

Yilasia threw herself onto the bed. "Finally! A real bed that isn't old and lumpy!" Yilasia exclaimed.

Glisteen smiled. She was happy Yilasia was happy, which now that she thought of it, was nearly never in their past life. "Just remember, Sia, we're in a dangerous place." Glisteen warned.

"Glisteen, it's fine, just relax for once." Yilasia replied, but Glisteen couldn't relax. She shook her head and walked across the hallway into her room.

She gasped again, even more in awe. Just like in Yilasia's room, there was a bed, a bedside table, a lamp, a bigger table, two chairs, and a carpet, all in the same places. But yet, it was so different.

The walls were a deep crimson red. The bed was also scarlet with patches of yam orange. The carpet was the same dark brown as Glisteen's hair. Instead of being white, the ceiling, table and chairs were all grey.

The bedside table and the lamp were black and instead of flowers, everything was decorated with miniature flames.

What was it Showda had said?

She had the Gift of nature. Then there was Erif. He had fire powers.

Nature. That was why Yilasia had flowers everywhere. Fire. She... had fire everywhere. Did that mean she had fire powers?

She waved one hand over the other. "Fire! Spark! Flame!" Okay, so that didn't work. She walked over to the bed and sat on it. Yilasia was right; it was nice to have a bed that wasn't old or lumpy.

She cupped her hands on her lap, closing her eyes, and remembering the warm, comforting feeling that fire gave her. Glisteen looked into the cup of her hands. Sitting there, was... nothing.

"Hey!" Sinlivbie said, appearing behind her. Glisteen screamed and fell face first off the bed. "You okay?"

Glisteen smoothed her clothes, standing up, frowning. "I'm fine. What was so important that you had to pop up behind me? Also, how'd you get in here? You need my handprint to get in."

"You left your door open." Sinlivbie said, pointing to the open door.

"Oh." Glisteen said, feeling foolish. Glisteen walked over and closed the door, then went back to the bed, where Sinlivbie was waiting.

"Also, responding to your first question, did you check out your closet?"

"Oh, you want your clothes back. Sorry, I-"

"No," Sinlivbie giggled. "Check it out!"

Glisteen walked over and opened the closet door. Again, with the handprint! Did they think someone would steal her clothes?

There, in the massive closet, were items of every type and color. Though, most of them were red, yellow, or orange. Such a surprise.

Sinlivbie squealed. "Don't you just love it?"

Before Glisteen had a chance to try anything on, a voice rattled from a circular thing near the ceiling.

"Anyone wishing to participate in the Battle of the Gifted, please come downstairs." it said monotonously. At least it wasn't Showda or Talyah.

"Well, come on." Sinlivbie urged. "What are you waiting for?"

Following Sinlivbie, Glisteen left the room, leaving behind her thoughts of clothes. They had arrived.